Image: Octopi Media.

Team Honda HRC owns the fastest lap in both classes entering the night program at the 2023 Monster Energy Supercross visit to Nashville, thanks to chart-topping qualifying speed from Chase Sexton and Hunter Lawrence at Nissan Stadium.

Still in control of the championship with the Salt Lake City finale fast approaching, Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) set the pace in the first timed session before Sexton led the way in Q2.

Ken Roczen (Progressive Insurance Ecstar Suzuki) and Justin Barcia (TLD Red Bull GasGas) spent time in the top spot during the concluding A-group 450SX qualifying outing but were displaced by Sexton and Adam Cianciarulo (Monster Energy Kawasaki) before the checkered flag.

Sexton’s 52.58s put the Honda rider 0.309s clear of Cianciarulo, who eclipsed Barcia by no more than an astounding 0.001s.

After Barcia, the first rider to turn a lap quicker than 53s at the event, Tomac was fourth aboard his new-for-2023 Yamaha YZ450F with a 52.918s. Roczen ended up fifth as the fastest rider not to lap under 53s.

Justin Hill of Team Tedder Monster Energy Mountain Motorsports impressed with the sixth-fastest lap as he came within 0.897s of Sexton.

Following a crash in the whoops early in Q2, Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki) was seventh as the last rider within a second of Sexton. Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM), Benny Bloss, and Colt Nichols (Team Honda HRC) finished out the top 10.

Image: Octopi Media.

A straightforward second qualifying session for the 250SX East division in Nashville saw Lawrence put nearly a full second between his Honda CRF250R and his competition.

At 52.407s, Lawrence’s best revolution of the Nissan Stadium track was 0.918s faster than the best effort from Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Jordon Smith.

Lawrence needs a result of 20th or better in the Nashville main event to secure his first Supercross title.

Jo Shimoda (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) set the pace in the first timed session earlier before settling for third in Q2, exactly 1s slower than Lawrence.

The first Nashville Supercross for rookie Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) began with a run to fourth on the qualifying timesheet, followed by East Rutherford winner Max Anstie (Fire Power Honda) in fifth.

Chris Blose (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki), Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha’s returning Jeremy Martin, Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM), and Phoenix Racing Honda duo Jace Owen and Cullin Park rounded out the 250SX East top 10 leading into the night show.

Detailed results